The United States is facing an immigration crisis, particularly with undocumented immigrants crossing the border. A similar crisis is unfolding in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, fueling negative perceptions of undocumented immigrants. Public opinion is divided. However, the humanitarian perspective is often overlooked, requiring a collective response from all parties involved. Governments are enacting deportation laws, but these policies fail to address the humanitarian aspects of the crisis. Legislation alone cannot resolve the issue. Educating the public about the root causes of undocumented immigration is crucial. Many undocumented immigrants seek better opportunities, much like past generations who migrated from England to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The lack of awareness of these historical similarities contributes to the growing negative perceptions. These unfavorable attitudes extend to children, who form views that persist into adulthood. Without intervention, these biases become difficult to change. Schools must actively discuss immigration, highlighting immigrants' contributions at all levels of society. Integrating discussions on immigration in education can reshape perceptions.

This presentation shares strategies for teaching about immigration positively and informatively, based on action research conducted in an undergraduate teacher preparation class. Anecdotal records were collected over several semesters through pre-class surveys, assessing student perceptions of undocumented immigrants and their understanding of historical migrations. Student perceptions were consistently misinformed because K-12 curricula only address immigration through a historical perspective, with little to no mention about current immigration parallels. The strategies shared in this presentation offer insights into fostering a more informed perspective on immigration.

Authors:
Kazi Hossain, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Kazi Hossain is currently an Associate Professor of Early, Middle, & Elementary Education at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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